High Efficiency Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Merlin Music Inc. VSM-MX Speakers by rbwalt@verizon.net

Model:	VSM-MX
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$9995 +/- various BAMs
Description:	Newest of the VSM loudspeaker
Manufacturer URL:	Merlin Music Inc.
Manufacturer URL:	Merlin Music Inc.

Review by rbwalt@verizon.net ( A ) on October 16, 2004 at 11:31:37
IP Address: 141.156.93.186

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for the VSM-MX

This is a review of the Merlin Music VSM-MX loud speaker. I would first like to say that i have known Bobby Palkovic and the rest of the gang at Merlin Music for almost 20 yrs. I worked for bobby from 86 to 96 before moving to northern virginia in the fall of 96.I respect bobby very much as a person and as a engineer/designer.I hold him in high regard along with the rest of the gang at merlin.

My piano black VSM-MX'S(simply stunning looking) arrived in perfect condition and went right into my system.My system is made up of a Music Reference RM9 MK2 amp( tubed),joule electra LA-150 line stage(tubed and incredible),all Cardas Golden Reference speaker cables and interconnects and a Rega Jupiter 2000 cd player( soon to be used as a transport only).My room measures 19'L x 13'W x 13'H.The speakers are placed 42.5 " from the side walls to the center of the woofers and 57.5" from the rear walls to the front of the speaker. they are 5'10" apart measured to the center of the woofers.My chair is 10'from the speakers.Right out of the box they sound good and as i had more time on them they began to soar.There is a total abscence of glare and brightness.They are not wirey or forward sounding at all.The merlins offer tremendous resoluton and a layering of the music that is uncanny!! I continue to hear things on many of my cd's that i never heard in the past.They have fantastic imaging and staging. They simply disappear.The mid's and highs are glorious.Voices are presented in a way that will make your back tingle(rich,full and liquid sounding).The highs are silky smooth with not a hint of harshness or sounding metalic like so many speakers on the market today. Do not let the size of the woofer scare you the bass is deep,fast and very very well defined.The merlins are a speaker that are neutral in tonal balance and that is the way a speaker should be.They grab you and do not let go.You will find yourself listening for hours on end and then some.They simply make other speakers sound broken!!!

Thanks bobby for building the best sounding speaker on the market today and i know iam not alone in this assessment.

Product Weakness: none really but if you want bass below 28hz get a sub
Product Strengths: build quality ,stunning appearance
perfect tonal balance

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	music reference rm9 mk2
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	joule electra la-150
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	jupiter 2000 cd player
Speakers:	merlin vsm mx
Cables/Interconnects:	cardas golden reference
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	rock , jazz, classical,progresive
Room Size (LxWxH):	19' x 13' x 13'
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	none really but if you want bass below 28hz get a sub
Product Strengths:	build quality ,stunning appearance perfect tonal balance